Canadian Idiot: Hollywood Sereotypes of Canadian Culture

Let’s start off the week of Canadian Culture by debunking a few Hollywood myths and stereotypes about Canada. Sit back, relax, hit play, and have a few laughs. (Laughing at ourselves is something Canadians almost stereotypically love to do!)

1. Canadian Bacon [year, director]

For the record, I really enjoy this film. It is campy and fun, and despite possessing certain Canadian stereotypes it doesn’t offend my sense of national pride. The plot is this: Some Americans get angry at some Canadians and craft a silly scheme to invade Canada… it’s like the war of 1812 but in the 1980s, with less people, more beer, bigger guns, and hockey.

2. Due South [TV, 1994-1999]

If you haven’t seen Due South, here’s what you need to know: it’s about a Mountie (Fraser) who essentially gets kicked out of Canada for saving the caribou for the evil dam-builders just a little too well, and moves down to Chicago to solve crime with an obnoxious American cop trope. Yep, it’s a Mountie buddy comedy. Take a peek at the opening scenes of the first episode and see if you can spot all the tropes and stereotypes:

3. Bon Cop, Bad Cop

This one really plays on the trope of English vs French in Canada. And it’s a pretty great buddy cop movie too… Wait, why are the buddy cop movies using Canadian stereotypes? Right, because buddy cop movies thrive on any kind of stereotype they can exploit for comedy.

4. Strange Brew

This gem is definitely strange. The film originated from SCTV sketch comedy and was pretty pioneering for its time. Here’s a brief look into the hockey-hoser-toque-wearing-beer-swilling life of Bob and Doug Mackenzie:

5. Men with Brooms

Curling… a sport only Scots, Canadians, and Norwegians in crazy pants really seem to love. It was hard to pick just one scene from this Canadian classic staring Paul Gross (who also played the Mountie Fraser in Due South) but it had to be the beavers. They’re our national animal after all, eh?

 

6. “Canadian Idiot” by Weird Al Yankovic

Self-explanatory. Just take a listen to how many Canadian stereotypes Weird Al can cram into a brief parody song:

 

7. “The Lumberjack Song” by Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Not so overt as others on the list (possibly because it’s more about cross-dressing and British humour) but the red-uniform clad Mounties are a little nod of the head.

 

8. Arrogant Worms songs- “Rocks and Trees” and “When Canada Rules the World”

Most Arrogant Worms songs talk about Canadian stereotypes. Take a listen, and laugh:

 

9. Family Guy “Canadian High School” and “Canadian Alcatraz”

Yeah, I ain’t got nothin’ to say for these…

10. X-Men “Wolverine”

Wolverine is a Canadian. How do you know? I mean he’s so grumpy and Canadians are nice, right? Well, the dead give-aways of his Canadian-identity are apparently a plaid shirt and the fact that he is a lumberjack in the mountains.

11. The Red Green Show “Zamboni” and “Beer Holder”

This classic gem of Canadian TV shows you how to create some uniquely Canadian inventions with duct tape, of course.

 

12. Rick Mercer “Talking to Americans”

See how little convincing it takes to get people from other countries (in this case, America) to believe our government buildings are made out of ice and snow?

13. SCTV Great White North “Long Underwear and Canadian Bacon” and “NHL Teams” Yeah, these guys pretty mch wrote the book on exploiting Canadian stereotypes for laughs. See number 4 on this list.

14. How I Met Your Mother – Robin “Give me the Stick”, “Robin Sparkles”, and “Canadian Barney vs American Barney” Hockey, eh’s, Mounties, and niceness oh my!

 

15. That 70’s Show “Canada”

Detained at the border by Mounties while on a beer run.

16. Corner Gas “Saskatchewan is Flat” and “Stephen Harper on Prairie Dogs vs Gophers”

All the fun stereotypes of living in small-town Sask.

 

17. Whose Line is it Anyway “Canadian Foreign Film Dub”  and “Canada Compilation”

18. The Simpsons “I’m from Canada, eh”

As one youtube commenter said “Canada’s two official languages: herp and derp”.

19. “Sh*t Canadians Say”

One of these trendy videos but for Canadians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0EsYiNA76Q

I’ve made a YouTube playlist of these videos for the viewing enjoyment of all netizens. You can find it here:  http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDB0C22951857B3DC&feature=mh_lolz